8.17
The new
consuls, after taking over the army from their predecessors, entered the
enemy's territory and carried their depredations up to the walls of their city.
The Sidicines had got together an immense army, and were evidently
prepared to fight desperately for their last hope; there was also a report that
Samnium was being roused into hostilities. A Dictator was accordingly
nominated by the consuls on the resolution of the senate -P. Cornelius
Rufinus; the Master of the Horse was M. Antonius. Subsequently a religious
difficulty arose through an informality in their nomination, and they resigned
their posts. In consequence of a pestilence which followed, it seemed as
though all the auspices were tainted by that informality, and matters reverted
to an interregnum. There were five interreges and under the last one, M.
Valerius Corvus, the consuls elected were C. Cornelius (for the second time)
and Cn. Domitius. Matters were now quiet, but a rumour of a Gaulish war
created as much alarm as an actual invasion, and it was decided that a
Dictator should be appointed. M. Papirius Crassus was nominated, his
Master of the Horse being P. Valerius Publicola. Whilst they were raising a
stronger levy than was usual in wars near at hand, the reconnoitring parties
that had been sent out reported that all was quiet amongst the Gauls. For the
last two years there had been suspicions of a movement in Samnium in
favour of a change of policy, and as a measure of precaution the Roman
army was not withdrawn from the Sidicine territory. The landing of
Alexander of Epirus near Paestum led the Samnites to make common cause
with the Lucanians, but their united forces were defeated by turn in a pitched
battle. He then established friendly relations with Rome, but it is very
doubtful how far he would have maintained them had his other enterprises
been equally successful. In this year a census was taken, the censors being Q.
Publilius Philo and Sp. Postumius. The new citizens were assessed and
formed into two additional tribes, the Maecian and the Scaptian. L. Papirius,
the praetor, secured the passage of a law by which the rights of citizenship
without the franchise were conferred on the inhabitants of Acerrae. These
were the military and civil transactions for the year.